what to look for in a power pack

[MHB]

looking to buy one to take my strobe out on location. is there anything I need to know when shopping for one? how do I tell how many shots I can get out of one per session? thanks

 

[Derrel]

There are different types of these devices; the main differences are price, and the type of battery that provides the power. There are pretty low-cost external devices that use AA batteries, and there are also batteries like the Quantum Battery products, which use sealed, rechargeable batteries inside them, like say, sealed lead-acid type batteries. The first type, the one using AA batteries, is an e-Bay-era staple, and can be bought fairly cheaply. The genuine Quantum brand batteries cost more, but provide higher performance.

You need to make sure whatever you buy will actually "fit" or "hook up to" your specific flash model or models. Some devices use a cord that plugs in to a small port on the flash; other devices use a cord that has a large module on the end which goes into the actually battery compartment on the flash unit, and may require modifying the door on the flash.

Shots per charge depends on several factors: battery storage capacity, ambient temperature, and the speed of the flashes being fired, and the flash power used. For example, firing full-power flashes once every 14 seconds might net you only say, 400 flashes, but firing AUTO-mode flashes with the camera at ISO 640 and the lens aperture set to f/4.8 might provide 1,500 flashes. Similarly, long delays between flashes tend to exhaust a battery much less quickly than when the battery is used to power the flash very rapidly, over long stretches of firing.

 

[beachrat]

Not to step on Derrels toes,but is this for speedlights or studio strobes?

 

[Derrel]

Not to step on Derrels toes,but is this for speedlights or studio strobes?

Yeah...I thought you meant "speedlight type flash" when you wrote "strobe"...but I guess you might have meant monolight-style studio electronic flash unit when you wrote strobe...in which case something like the Paul C. Buff company's Vagabond Mini (or is it Mini Vagabond?) would be a pretty solid choice.

Here are some for speedlights Flash Battery Pack | eBay

 

[pixmedic]

I would make sure you get something with enough power to run the flux capacitor, so...a minimum of
1.21 gigawatts. if you can budget in something with a little more power, you can always dial it down if you don't need it. The harder part might be getting your strobes up to 88 mph.

 

[beachrat]

I would make sure you get something with enough power to run the flux capacitor, so...a minimum of
1.21 gigawatts. if you can budget in something with a little more power, you can always dial it down if you don't need it. The harder part might be getting your strobes up to 88 mph.

Flux capacitors are as over rated as a 35mm f/1.8g

 

[Derrel]

I would make sure you get something with enough power to run the flux capacitor, so...a minimum of
1.21 gigawatts. if you can budget in something with a little more power, you can always dial it down if you don't need it. The harder part might be getting your strobes up to 88 mph.

Speaking of which...I .saw this beauty on the streets of Portland's trendy Pearl District, about 50 feet north of Lovejoy, in 2012...iPhone snap

 

[Village Idiot]

The PCB Vagabond Lithiums are probably the most convenient. I've got a Tronix that's died twice from inactivity. I'm actually selling the body minus the batteries for fairly cheap. It's just sometimes I'll go months without needing a power supply and other times I'll use it several times in one month and the lithium doesn't require the attention that the SLA batteries do.

 

[Photo synthesis]

The PCB Vagabond Lithiums are probably the most convenient. I've got a Tronix that's died twice from inactivity. I'm actually selling the body minus the batteries for fairly cheap. It's just sometimes I'll go months without needing a power supply and other times I'll use it several times in one month and the lithium doesn't require the attention that the SLA batteries do.

Hey! How was Vagabond Lithium performance? I looked at innovatronix website and found out that they have lithium battery packs as new products, they are named Tronix Explorer 500Li and Tronix Explorer P-Dock. The Tronix Explorer 500Li is for monoblocks/ studio flash units while the Tronix Explorer P-Dock is for speedlites or flash guns. I think these are good products than their SLA battery packs right? I've found out that the lithium batteries can be used for 500Li and P-Dock. Look at the picture I found in their website.

 

[Trever1t]

I have a Vagabond II also. Never run out of power. Rated to run 2 lights for like 500 full power flashes.

 

[Village Idiot]

The PCB Vagabond Lithiums are probably the most convenient. I've got a Tronix that's died twice from inactivity. I'm actually selling the body minus the batteries for fairly cheap. It's just sometimes I'll go months without needing a power supply and other times I'll use it several times in one month and the lithium doesn't require the attention that the SLA batteries do.

Hey! How was Vagabond Lithium performance? I looked at innovatronix website and found out that they have lithium battery packs as new products, they are named Tronix Explorer 500Li and Tronix Explorer P-Dock. The Tronix Explorer 500Li is for monoblocks/ studio flash units while the Tronix Explorer P-Dock is for speedlites or flash guns. I think these are good products than their SLA battery packs right? I've found out that the lithium batteries can be used for 500Li and P-Dock. Look at the picture I found in their website.

I use my VML with a 800 w/s Dynalite pack. I honestly haven't kept up on other offerings out there as I really haven't had the need and time. I'll check out the Tronix stuff when I have time. The VML does great for what I need it for.